Spring Steam Gala - March 2014

After the wettest winter on record, the MHR spring gala was blessed with the warmest day of 2014 thus far (20 degrees) and unbroken sunshine. This provided a backdrop to a memorable event featuring the gala debut of 35028 Clan Line as well as the return of 34046 Braunton and the slightly longer-awaited return of the Metropolitan Railway tank engine #1 for use on shuttles with the Thumper DEMU.

The gala would prove to be the swansong of popular U mogul 31806, which left the line shortly after as the protracted legal dispute between the MHR and the owner of the locomotive was finally concluded, with the engine moving to the Swanage Railway along with a number of out of traffic locomotives based on the line at the time.